Our Team

Growth Consultants

Andrew Berns, PhD

Andrew currently lives in Wisconsin and is the Chair of the Psychology Department at the Milwaukee Area Technical College in Milwaukee, WI. He has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology. His expertise is in developing life long learners that utilize psychological concepts and theories to improve their relationships with others. The OTHERS(S) resource that he identifies with the most is emotional intelligence. Andrew's one tip for participants who attend Hold The Door Day is to embrace the opportunity to learn about yourself and those around you. Andrew's favorite quote: "Those who never risk, are never free".

Matthew J. Bitsko, PhD

Matt is a licensed clinical psychologist living in Richmond, Virginia. He has a doctorate in counseling psychology and specializes in pediatric psychology. Matt works in the Pediatric Cancer and Hematology clinic at VCU Children’s Medical Center. His expertise includes helping others adjust to uncommon life situations and medical diagnoses. The OTHERS(S) resource he identifies with the most is relationships.

Jason M. Briggs, M.A.

Jason has served as a growth consultant with Hold The Door For Others
for the last 4 years.
He holds a Master’s degree in Clinical-Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in industrial and organizational applications.
His experiences
at Hold The Door center onpreparing others to grow through loss and adversity through various types of developmental resources
and speaking engagements.

The OTHERS(S) resource that he identifies with the most is optimism. Jason’s one tip for participants who attend Hold The Door Day is to try to keep things positive, and think about what you can do as a next step (for you and others) during times of duress.

Jason currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

John Brunelle, PhD

John is a licensed psychologist who lives in Huntersville, North Carolina. He has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and currently works at the Davidson College student counseling center. His expertise is working with college-age students in individual and group counseling, including running a grief and loss group over the last 8 years. He has worked with Hold The Door For Others for 9 years. The OTHERS(S) resource that he identifies with the most is resiliency with an emphasis on self-care. John’s one tip for participants who attend Hold The Door Day is to remember that in order to effectively care for others you need to take care of yourself first...

Helga Byrne, LMHC, CASAC, NCC

Helga is a psychotherapist in a private practice in New York City (www.helgabyrne.com). She holds a Masters in Counseling Psychology and has a
specialization in substance abuse. Her expertise also includes working with adults of all ages who struggle with depression, anxiety, panic disorders, eating disorders, self-esteem and identity disorders, and life transitions. Helga has worked with Hold The Door For Others since its inception and identifies most with the OTHERS(S) resource of resiliency.

Robert J. Fazio, PhD

Rob is a licensed psychologist who lives in Center City Philadelphia. He has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology (VCU) and a Master’s in Athletic Counseling (Sport Psychology). He is a Talent and Leadership Consultant at the Leadership Research Institute, where he works with executives. His expertise includes teaching people how to grow before, during, and after trauma, crises, or loss. He has worked with Hold The Door For Others for 9 years. The OTHERS(S) resource that he identifies with the most is emotional intelligence. Rob’s one tip for people who attend Hold The Door Day is to keep an open mind and challenge yourself to learn from those around you.

Micah McCreary, PhD

Micah is a licensed psychologist who is currently Associate Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He is also on the VCU Honors Council, Reviewer for the Journal of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Executive Director of the IMPPACT programs, and a joint Pastor with Jacqueline Madison-McCreary. He has a background in family and adolescent counseling, spirituality, and cultural psychology. He has worked with Hold The Door For Others for the past 10 years and has spoke at most of our Hold The Door Days. The OTHERS(S) resources he identifies with the most are people and spirituality. Micah’s words of advice for Hold The Door Day participants today it is not about what you do or what was done to you. It is about what you do and how you respond to what you did and what was done. Micah currently lives in Richmond, VA.

Jennifer Page Hughes, PhD

Jen is a licensed psychologist in Massachusetts and currently works at Harvard University's Bureau of Study Counsel. She also has a private psychology practice in Cambridge, MA, focusing on grief and loss, ADHD, and perfectionism. Jen obtained her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology in 2005 after completing her clinical internship at the University of Pennsylvania's Counseling & Psychological Services. A chance connection with Rob led to a conversation about their shared experiences of growth through loss. She has been a member of the Hold the Door team ever since.
Jen values the personal meaning that she finds in helping others work through the painful moments in their lives. The OTHERS(S) resource she identifies with most is true meaning. Jen's tip for participants who attend HTD Day is to remember that the connections you make with others and with yourself will provide the foundation for your healing and growth through loss.

Tayyab Rashid, PhD

Tayyab Rashid holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed psychologist. He lives in Toronto where he works with children and adults. His expertise includes clinical positive psychology with an emphasis on dealing with adversities, traumas, and losses by promoting strengths and meaning. He has collaborated with Rob Fazio in devising interventions based on OTHERS(S) model. The OTHERS(S) resource that he identifies with the most is optimism and hope. Tayyab's tip for participants who attend Hold The Door Day is to initiate an active and realistic process of searching of all the goodness and beauty that is still left in and around you.

Deborah Roche, PhD

Deborah Roche has been working with Hold the Door for Others for 8 years. She obtained her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Buffalo. As a licensed psychologist in New York, her mission is to help people grow in times of difficulty and realize their potential to achieve their goals. The OTHER(S) resource she identifies with most is optimism. Everyone is confronted by challenges at some time in their life. Dr. Roche believes being able to find hope during those times is often the first step to overcoming the obstacles we all encounter.

Diana Salvador, PsyD

Diana is a licensed psychologist who lives in Red Bank, New Jersey. She has a Doctorate in School Psychology and specializes in working with children and families. Diana is the Clinician Administrator for Child and Adolescent Services at UMDNJ. She is the former Director of the September 11th Family Wellness Program, a therapeutic program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The component of the OTHERS(S) model that most resonates with Diana is the emphasis on connecting with others who have experienced loss. Diana's one tip for participants who attend Hold The Door Day is to remember that you are not alone. Often, it takes others to remind us of the strength and resiliency that lies within.

Breanna Winder, M.A.

Breanna is in her 11th year of providing treatment to children with autism and their families, has completed two master's degrees in Psychology, and is currently advancing her career in the Clinical/Developmental Psychology PhD program at Bryn Mawr College outside of Philadelphia. Her expertise includes working with children with various different clinical presentations including autism spectrum disorders, anxiety and depression, and helping them to recognize their potential to grow through their experience. Breanna has worked with Hold the Door for Others for 7 years. The OTHERS(S) model resource that she identifies with the most is emotional intelligence. Breanna's tip for participants attending Hold The Door Day is that even if you don't think you have grown yet from your experience, often a great beginning step is to pick one of the OTHERS(S) resources that seems to fit you and begin with identifying some aspect of growth- no matter how small it may seem - and let it open your awareness to all of your growth possibilities.

Volunteers

Clayre Brown

Clayre Brown lives in Philadelphia and owns her own event planning company, Kaleidoscope Solutions. She currently coordinates Hold The Door’s Annual Golf Outing and Fundraiser.
Clayre volunteers for Hold The Door because it is a unique and intangible non-profit that helps people on a very personal level. Every person who HTD has helped has been through something in their life that nobody else could understand or help them through it. Hold The Door For Others is an organization that impacts countless numbers of individuals; those who may have suffered a world tragedy, or those who may be suffering their own personal tragedy.
The OTHERS(S) resource Clayre identifies with the most is Resilience.

Lauren Fazio

Lauren lives in New Jersey and is a co-founder of Hold The Door For Others. She is involved in all aspects of Hold The Door and particularly enjoys the planning of the Annual Hold the Door Day. She is always proud of Hold The Door Day when people leave with a smile on their face and a renewed courage to face what lies ahead. Helping others grow through loss and adversity has helped her grow from her own loss of her father.
The OTHERS(S) resource she identifies with the most is Humor.

Barrie Johnson

Barrie lives in Westbury, NY with his wife, Jennifer and daughter, Emilia and works in finance. Barrie is connected to Hold The Door For Others through his wife and is honored to participate with the organization throughout the years. Either as a volunteer or a participant in the sessions at Hold The Door Day, he always leaves feeling uplifted. The OTHERS(S) resource Barrie identifies most with is Optimism.

Jennifer Vento Johnson

Jennifer lives in Westbury, NY with her husband, Barrie and daughter, Emilia. Jennifer is a cousin of the Fazio's and is thrilled with the success of Hold The Door For Others. She has been honored to be a volunteer for this organization since its inception, and values the connections made on Hold The Door Day each year she has participated. Through her involvement this annual event, she has learned to move forward after experiencing some personal losses of her own. The OTHERS(s) resource she identifies most with is Resilience.

Maureen Winner

Maureen lives in New York and teaches 8th Grade. She is a member of the Hold The Door Attendence Committee and loves volunteering for Hold The Door. Hold The Door inspires Maureen to be a better person and to approach each day with purpose.
The OTHERS(S) resource she identifies with the most is Optimism.

Jeff Winner

Jeff is a financial advisor from New York. He enjoys volunteering on Hold The Door Day because he loves meeting new people and helping others.
The OTHERS(S) resource he identifies with the most is Humor.